Yes Buffets really are gross

[Georgia_Peaches]

At the rate we're going, being on a cruise will be awesome for my weight loss program!

[Bo1953]

46 minutes ago, zitsky said:

 

Because some people complain about threads they don't like.  Oh, here's another ABCXYZ thread.  As long as we follow the rules, it should be A-OK.

Nahh, just as long as they do not become 'overly' contentious or waaaay off topic or blatantly violate TOS...

 

Readers can report all day long, but the mods are fair, IMO, about what needs to be deleted or locked.

 

bon voyage

Edited May 14, 2020 by Bo1953

[Denny01]

If we did away with buffets, where would those that post that the MDR entrees are inedible......all of them....and they go to the buffet because that’s the only place they can dine??? I mean, my gosh, what would happen to those poooooor people who can’t stomach (literally) the MDR fare??? 

 

Oh, I just suggested another thread subject that has never been seen! 

 

Den

[Pinboy]

30 minutes ago, zitsky said:

 

If you see something..... say something. 

Yea right--- Only if I was 7'12 '' tall and weighed 140 lbs , and could run like crazy, eh  !!! 

 

[yorky]

Just now, Denny01 said:

If we did away with buffets, where would those that post that the MDR entrees are inedible......all of them....and they go to the buffet because that’s the only place they can dine??? I mean, my gosh, what would happen to those poooooor people who can’t stomach (literally) the MDR fare??? 

 

Oh, I just suggested another thread subject that has never been seen! 

 

Den

Just stick to the speciality restaurants, it works for us.

[hcat]

3 hours ago, davekathy said:

We aren't buffet fans but, I disagree with you that buffets need to be removed permanently from cruise ships. Buffets still can be a dining option but no longer self serve style. Cafeteria style where you are served your selection(s).  

That's how it used to be...until.X introduced the serve yourself areas in the middle of the space....in a fairly confusing mish mash configuration 

[Denny01]

10 minutes ago, yorky said:

Just stick to the speciality restaurants, it works for us.

Don’t need the specialties except for a special time.....we find the MDR is just fine. 

 

Now to actually respond to the subject.....picture no buffet and 2000+ going to the MDR for breakfast prior to tours......going to lunch every day. Not an option to close them. Other options that were mentioned? Servers spooning it all out at each station - fine. Good ideas.

 

As to some guy walking out of a booth without washing, you could give the a yell. “Hey guy, wash up!”. But make sure the guy didn’t step out of the booth with its own basin....oops!

 

Den

Edited May 14, 2020 by Denny01

[drakes2]

4 hours ago, Decpl said:

That's and issue everywhere, people just have no idea on manners or hygiene . I once witnessed a cruiser tasting food with the serving spoons, called supervisor over and told him and pointed out lady and all he did was remove the dishes that I saw her touch.Never went and confronted her.

They won't confront for fear of guests reporting them and then their job is on the line. Very sad. Stuff has happened to me too and sadly I just walk away.  Guests can be rude and downright unmannerly.  

[davekathy]

49 minutes ago, yorky said:

Just stick to the speciality restaurants, it works for us.

Nah, they don't work for us. 

Edited May 14, 2020 by davekathy

[drakes2]

4 hours ago, Big_G said:

I'm not a buffet regular but it's good in a pinch. I'd be disappointed to see it permanently go the way of a sit down dining experience.

I will go to the buffet for their nice crusty breads and butter and only the butter that's wrapped. Sometimes cheese but I'll cut from the back of the wheel. Yes, I'm fussy. 

[Pinboy]

13 minutes ago, drakes2 said:

They won't confront for fear of guests reporting them and then their job is on the line.

Your comment is correct. The premise about their job being on the line , well, not so sure ( IMO ).

Management in any business knows their Staff's strengths and weaknesses and will support them when they are right.

The Managers and Maitre'D's , know when a complaint is legitimate or not. If he/she didn't see the " infraction " himself/herself, ( note the political correctness ) it's hard to confront someone.

The weakest area to lodge a complaint or concern is the Guest Relations Dept.-- Take notes, do nothing --

" Sorry 'bout that " and a plate of chocolate covered strawberries to the room. 

( No -- Not speaking from experience --- overheard at a table close to ours ).

 

 

 

[BigAl94]

Here's the bottom line, cruise ships are unhealthy - take it or leave it.

[MISTER 67]

5 hours ago, Decpl said:

That's and issue everywhere, people just have no idea on manners or hygiene . I once witnessed a cruiser tasting food with the serving spoons, called supervisor over and told him and pointed out lady and all he did was remove the dishes that I saw her touch.Never went and confronted her.

The lines do everything they can do to not offend passengers, so stupid.

[MISTER 67]

5 hours ago, davekathy said:

We aren't buffet fans but, I disagree with you that buffets need to be removed permanently from cruise ships. Buffets still can be a dining option but no longer self serve style. Cafeteria style where you are served your selection(s).  

This is what I see when we all can start cruising again. 

[tocruiseguy]

2 hours ago, Denny01 said:

Don’t need the specialties except for a special time.....we find the MDR is just fine. 

 

Now to actually respond to the subject.....picture no buffet and 2000+ going to the MDR for breakfast prior to tours......going to lunch every day. Not an option to close them. Other options that were mentioned? Servers spooning it all out at each station - fine. Good ideas.

 

As to some guy walking out of a booth without washing, you could give the a yell. “Hey guy, wash up!”. But make sure the guy didn’t step out of the booth with its own basin....oops!

 

Den

Yeah, I want to get in a fight with a stranger in a public washroom, (pretty sure I could have taken him...😄 )but who wants to get into a tussle with a stranger with you know what on his hands.  We will always have slobs, nothing will change that.  

 

PS when I said no buffets I meant no more self serve, I get the logistics.  

[phoenix_dream]

4 hours ago, drew69 said:

Not to mention what goes on in kitchens that you do not see.  Who knows who is washing their hands before touching your food.  What was dropped on the floor and picked back up, coughed on, sneezed on, and who knows what else.

Which of course also applies to any food you eat anywhere onboard, or in any on land restaurant for that matter.

 

Some people do have gross buffet habits, that's true.  But many of these bad habits can be nullified if you just carry a bottle of hand sanitizer (or hand wipes) with you, and re-clean your hands before eating.  No, it doesn't solve 100% of the problems (if someone is really rude and sneezes on the food for example) but I think it mitigates the vast majority of them.  There is nowhere on the ship to be 100% safe from sickness, ever, anywhere.  There just isn't.  

[NonnaTLC]

7 hours ago, tocruiseguy said:

I always hated buffets on the ships, especially the time I was washing my hands in the washroom right outside the Oceanview cafe and a guy walked right out of the stall past the sinks.  Witnessed him spooning food on his plate, infected everything he touched with his dirty hands.  When cruising starts up again the buffets need to be removed permanently.

 

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/japanese-experiment-showcases-how-quickly-viruses-can-spread-at-buffets

I agree, maybe there's a compromise...

Instead of people serving themselves, have servers behind the buffet line dishing up food.

Also, pre plated and covered desserts, rolls, anything that is small and easily carried on a dessert size plate.

This is not only changing cruises, but casinos, Chinese buffets, or anyplace that has "all you care to eat" serve 

yourself.

[Denny01]

3 minutes ago, tocruiseguy said:

Yeah, I want to get in a fight with a stranger in a public washroom, (pretty sure I could have taken him...😄 )but who wants to get into a tussle with a stranger with you know what on his hands.  We will always have slobs, nothing will change that.  

 

PS when I said no buffets I meant no more self serve, I get the logistics.  

I’d only yell at the slob if he was on a walker......My luck, he’d hit me with it!!

 

Den

[Pinboy]

I'll give 2000/1 odds that this thread goes 200 pages !!

Yea, yea, so don't read 'em .

 

 

 

[billyu]

The experiment was not about showing the spread because of buffet. I was used to show how a virus can spread. The buffet was just the setting.

 

Look at the chair the water pitcher. The subject had the liquid put on his hands at the table before going to the buffet line.

 

It is meant to show how a virus spreads . The setting doesn’t matter. You would get the same results in the MDR with an infected person at the table touch things others at the table handle.

 

BTW on a ship buffets are gross to begin with!!!!!!!

 

[yorky]

It’s simply going to be an adaption rather than shut down.

[gfkcruiser]

A few years back a man serving himself at the buffet was using a napkin to grab the serving utensils.  He had the right idea.  

 

As for the staff serving in buffet - we sailed on a ship after an outbreak of noro.  No self serve for 3 days.  Not a problem.  

[spencerdrivecruiser]

A bit of irony.  The   C and M class had cafeteria style lines with trays.  A crew member gave you basically the portion you asked for.

 

Then came the S Class with total self service and mostly everyone loved this new concept.  Now, hopefully they take a step back and serve everything as it was.

 

If you got up to the Oceanview Cafe by noon it was a breeze getting your food.

 

Personally, I prefer the way the buffet was handled on the C and M class way back when.

[Redtravel]

Not all buffets are gross.  Some ships, not Celebrity, never allow guests to serve themselves. Servers wear hairnets and gloves. Guests asks for a food item. The server places it on a dish and hands it to you. The server holds the plate with a clean piece of paper that they throw away after each use. Servers bring you flatware and drinks. Servers remove all dirty items. Each table is wiped down between guests. Some buffets have wash stations as you enter the buffet. Most buffets, including Celebrity, have Purcell dispensers. Some cruise lines, stop you and insist that you use the Purell. Celebrity has Purell, but not everyone uses it.  
celebrity buffet has too many choices and too few tables. Tables are too close together. Eliminate some stations and add more seating would be a help.  I pick food based on which station has no line.  Open The dining room for all meals would help thin the crowds.
 

[zitsky]

18 minutes ago, Redtravel said:

Not all buffets are gross.  Some ships, not Celebrity, never allow guests to serve themselves. Servers wear hairnets and gloves. Guests asks for a food item. The server places it on a dish and hands it to you. The server holds the plate with a clean piece of paper that they throw away after each use. Servers bring you flatware and drinks. Servers remove all dirty items. Each table is wiped down between guests. Some buffets have wash stations as you enter the buffet. Most buffets, including Celebrity, have Purcell dispensers. Some cruise lines, stop you and insist that you use the Purell. Celebrity has Purell, but not everyone uses it.  
celebrity buffet has too many choices and too few tables. Tables are too close together. Eliminate some stations and add more seating would be a help.  I pick food based on which station has no line.  Open The dining room for all meals would help thin the crowds.
 

 

Good idea!

 

Is the MDR open for lunch?  I only have experience with Blu (no lunch).